Arts & Culture

Best Date Ideas For Art Lovers In Minnesota

Skip the boring dinner and a movie date. When you’re in Minnesota, a world of art and culture awaits you. With all of the museums and architectural icons throughout the state, there’s so much to occupy any evening of romance. Many couples find a special gallery or artist-inspired corner of the state to enjoy their special evening. Take your honey to any of these venues for a date to remember.

The Walker Art Center is the iconic art gallery on the edge of downtown Minneapolis, Established as the first public art gallery in the Upper Midwest, The Walker remains one of the top five galleries in the country. Take your date to the Walker for an entire evening of roaming through several galleries, a complete art library and performing arts theater. Frequently rotating and visiting exhibits make this a destination for future dates as well. Come during the spring, summer or fall to enjoy the famous sculpture garden adjacent to the gallery.

Minnesota Museum of American ArtThe Pioneer Building
332 N. Robert St.
St. Paul, MN 55101
(651) 222-6080www.mmaa.org

The first and only visual art museum in the city of St. Paul, the Minnesota Museum of American Art (MMAA) offers an overwhelming display of great works and exhibitions to enjoy. A former art school and exhibition space, students and lovers of art flock to MMAA daily to immerse themselves in visual art. The MMAA features many works of local artists and offers education and project space for members of the community. Enjoy an afternoon or evening with your art-loving sweetie at the MMAA.

Lovers of the performing arts and live music will find the perfect date at the Minnesota Orchestra. Now that the lockout is over and the musicians are again performing magic, the Minnesota Orchestra is in top form. The current orchestra has been praised through numerous organizations, critics and won a Grammy award last fall. One of America’s top symphonic ensembles is located right in downtown Minnesota. Check out a traditional concert, a family event, one its numerous family programs or a pops concert for a night to remember.

Another venue for the lover of the arts is The Guthrie Theater. Located in downtown Minneapolis, the Guthrie’s mission is to make classic theater available and accessible to the local community and Upper Midwest. The Guthrie is made up of three stages for past classics, modern classics and the classics of the future. This year, it is celebrating 50 years of existence and support in Minnesota. Bring your date by for a show, tour or a class offered at the theater.

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts hosts a wide range of art collections from all over the world. The permanent and traveling exhibits feature artists from the past century to those from two centuries ago. Enjoy free admission daily at one of the largest art education facilities and galleries in Minnesota. Check out public tours that run daily to learn something new or hear some old ideas as well. The MIA also features Third Thursdays, where drinks and live music accompany tours of the museum on the third Thursday of each month.